Cole Hammer wins 2018 Western Amateur

Northfield, Ill. (Aug. 4, 2018) ... Cole Hammer, of Houston, Texas, never doubted Saturday he would win the 116th Western Amateur at Sunset Ridge Country Club.

Neither did Davis Riley, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The difference was Hammer, the tournament co-medalist, was the frontrunner nearly the entire championship match and was able to hold off Riley’s late charge to hoist the George R. Thorne Trophy. He’s the sixth 18-year-old champion, joining a group that includes 14-time major champion Tiger Woods and last year’s winner Norman Xiong.

“Surreal,” said Hammer, whose mother, Allison, served as his caddie all week. “Biggest day in my golf career, no question.”